When Inspector Jeanette Dooley entered the Philadelphia Police Department in 1973 as one of a handful of women police officers, becoming a pioneer wasn’t on her list of priorities. However, after becoming the first female officer to reach the 40 year mark, that’s exactly what she has become. While there may be great pride in being a pioneer, all she ever really wanted to be was a cop.

Jeanette Dooley knew she wanted to become a Police Officer after reading about the brutal murder of Philadelphia teenager, Delores Della Pena. In July of 1972, Della Pena was murdered and tortured in an unspeakable manner. The then-unsolved murder of this teenage girl sparked a fire inside of Dooley. Knowing that she possessed inner strength and some “good common sense”, Jeanette wanted to use her talents to stop criminals – like Della Pena’s killer – from hurting people.

But this was the early 70s, and back then it wasn’t so simple for a female to become a police officer. Most police departments nationwide had just begun allowing women to join their ranks. And getting on Philadelphia’s Police force was not as simple as filling out an application. And once on the force, Dooley would face discrimination and the social stigma associated with being a female cop.

But this did not deter Jeanette. And after waiting on a hiring list for almost 2 years, she entered the Philadelphia Police Academy in 1973. After training, she met some resistance from the police hierarchy. Women police officers were not welcome or wanted, by some men in the department. However, holding her own, and doing her job, the men would come around. Dooley’s perseverance paid off.

If being a female officer was difficult, being a supervisor would prove to be even tougher. A supervisor once told she would never make rank because no male officer would ever take orders from a female superior. Yet she managed to become a sergeant – one of only 4 in the department in 1979. Jeanette gained the respect of her subordinates. She received the support of her Lieutenant, James Clark, who had her back with whatever resistance she was met with. Clarke encouraged her to work hard, saying she would succeed.

Jeanette went on to have what any police officer, male OR female, would consider a spectacular career. She rose all the way to the rank of Police Inspector, where she retired as Night Watch Commander. After 40 years on the job, she wants to be remembered as a leader, a mentor, and as a person who always fought for victim’s rights. Most of all, Inspector Jeanette Dooley wants to be remembered as a good cop. After such a spectacular career, it’s impossible to remember her as anything else.